The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-07-02
AN ADVENTURE IN HAREM

actiilS PriNaIc secretary OI the Erea
Ilchee," Lord Stratford de Red
clifle, then Sir Stratford Canning
The British Consul at-ha,
laid before the Ambassador com
plants against the Pasha of tn
district where he resided, and tn
later had also brought under tn
notice of the Porte grievances of
serious character, alleged to hav,
been suffered from the proceeding
of the COnscl. Attempts wer,
made by the Porte and the Ambas
sador to bring about settlement
of the differences, without success
British subjects, Ionians and Turks
whose interests were affected by
this state of affairs, appealed t(
the Embassy and,tO the Porte, urg
ing that steps should be taken t.
secure the ends Of justice.
Sir S. Canning proposed to tho
Porte that an officer of the EN-.
bassay should be sent to-to
make an inquiry into the conduct
of the two functionaries, and that
he should be empowered both by
the Porte and the Ambassador To
bring about n settlement of these
differences. which had been a con.
slant source of vexatious cores
pondcnce. Sir Stratford selected
me for this duty, and delivered to
me letters from the Porte to the
Pasha, and from himself to the
Consul, acquainting them rcspec-
lively that | had been authorized
to inquire into the various ques-
tions at issue, and to endeavor to
bring about a settlement.
Both the Consul and Pasha Oh
my arrival offered me hospitality,
which l declined, under peculiar
circumstances in which | was placed
by my mission.
The day after my arrival the
Pasha summoned Divan of sew
er:ll local notablcs, who were to
give evidence, and the Consul was
also requested to attend. When l
entered the Divan, being then a
youth of about twenty-six, was
much shocked at seeing the Pasha,
Consul and other notables with
white and hoary boards and a VEN
cradle appearance, upon whom /
had, as it were, to sit in judgment.
After pipes and coffee, the hearing
of the various subjects in dispute
commenced.
Though | refer to this scene, as
it affects the end of my tale, it is
needless to relate what passed,
further than to mention that i
found both Pasha and Consul were
i'm the wrong, but that neither had
acted in manner to require any
severe ccnsurc on the part of the
Porte or Ambassador, and l drew
up report in that sense. On my
return journey to the port, hay
ing heard that game was plenti-
full, | gave my horse to the Greek
servant to lead, and wandered
over the country. | had good
sport and the Greek frequently
warned me that unless we kept to
the beaten path and rode on quick
~, we should not he able to reach
the port before dark.
/ continued, however, to shoot,
wandering into thickets after game
many miles from the road, or rather
track. until it became so dark that
/ could no longer see the birds rise.
On remounting / told the Greek to
lead the way, but he declined; he
knew not where we were, nor even
what direction to take. 1t was
bright, clear night, and at a dis
tance of about two miles / espied
a light. Thithcr / decided to di-
rect our steps and to ask for shelter
for the night, or for guide.
We arrived at a large building,
with lattice windows several feet
from the ground, surrounded by a
high wall, inclosing what appeared
to be farm buildings, with a large
double gate, where carts and cattle
could pass. After knocking loudly
an old Turk appeared. / spoke
Turkish fuently at that time, so |
told him was an English traveller
and had lost my way, and begged
to have shelter for the night any
where in the farm-yard; feed
for my horse, and some bread
and coffee, if nothing else in the
way of food was procurable, for my
self and servant, for we were very
hungry.
The Turk replied that his master
was-Bcy, who had formerly
been in the service of Porte; that
he was a landed proprietor; that
ms his family dwelt with him, no
man could be admitted into the
house, but he offered to ask the
Bey's permission to. allow us to
pass the night in one Of the out
houses. and to put up our horses:
The gate was again closed, and
after waiting few minutes a Tur-
kish gentleman, dressed in hand
,o,o a., ,ol;coo orI fnz annenrcd,